Trolley fob distributing systems



April 2, 1935. H. J. L. FRANK ET AL 19513 TROLLEY FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Original Filed July 28. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 45 Lil fil a a. .z f ni 4 I NgEN TOR- WM w A 77' ORNE Y.

A ril 2, 1935.

H. J. L. FRANK ET AL TROLLEY FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Original Filed July 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J/MMASM Zuni:

A TTORNE Y.

I N VEN TORJ.

April 2, 1935. H. J. L. FRANK ET AL 19513 TROLLEY FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Original Filed July 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 H3 i? f Wet/m WA A TTORNEY.

April 2, 1935.

H. J. FRANK ET AL Re. 19,513

TROLLEY FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Original Filed July 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEY.

Reiuued Apr. 2, 1935 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROLLEY FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Harrison J. L. Frank and William A. Harper, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Bulldog Electric Products Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of West Virginia 42 Claim.

This invention relates to current distributing systems and more particularly to systems useful in distributing current from one portion of a tactory building to another and it is to be understood that this case is to be considered along with the copending application, Serial No. 682,874, filed July 29, 1933, in the name of Harrison J. L. Frank et al.

This application relates to the collectors or trolleys which take current from the bus bars while the said application, Serial No. 682,874, relates to the bus bars and ducts from which current is to be taken by the trolleys disclosed in this application.

It has been the practice heretofore in factory installations to install, at conveniently located points, outlets from which current may be taken from plug-1n devices attached to the end of cords, etc., leading from electrically driven tools. Such installations are extremely disadvantageous in certain types of work, especially those where it is necessary for a factory worker, having an electrically driven tool in his hand to go from one place to another while the tool is operating.

It has been found desirable to provide a trolley system such that the worker can move his electrically driven tool along with the work all the while withdrawing current without interruption, and without creating danger due to snagging or short circuiting oi the cords which conduct the current to the tool.

An obj ect of this invention, therefore, is a means from which current can be taken "on the run.

A further object is a trolley including wheels adapted to ride on rails. wheels adapted to ride along bus bars withdrawing current therefrom, and tool supporting means, the current collecting wheels being connected by suitable electrical connectors to a cord which leads to the electrically driven tool supported by the trolley.

A further object. is a current collector trolley which is adapted to ride along and be supported by a bus bar enclosing channel or duct, the current collecting trolley being provided with means to take current from the bus bars.

A further object is a novel form of trolley for use with multiphase currents, one which is so formed as to be incapable of mechanical and electrical connection to the bus bars in any but the proper direction, whereby flow of the current in an improper direction is-prevented.

A further object is a novel form or trolley, one which is removable from the rails along which it rides only at the end of a rail section, thus forming a permanent, though movable, connection between current collectors and bus bars.

A further object is a trolley provided with sides which may be moved to or from each other and adapted to embrace between them a rail along which the trolley is movable, the construction thus permitting removal of the trolleys from a rail at any point desired, the trolleys being provided with means to open or close the sides whereby removal of the trolley from the rail is prevented except when it is the will of the operator to remove it.

A still further object is a novel form of trolley oi the character described in the preceding paragraph wherein a handle means projecting downwardly from the head portion or the trolley is provided with latch means to control movement of the sides of the trolley.

Another object is a novel form of roller contact, one which includes a copper tube or sleeve integrally fastened to the outer race of a conventional or standard roller or ball bearing.

A still further object is a novel form of trolley having separable head portions which are insertable in a bus bar enclosing duct and which when separated engage the duct and the bus bars, although movable along the latter. The trolley thus described is so formed that when the head portions are caused to approach each other, current collection ceases and withdrawal of the trolley from the duct is permitted, the trolley being provided with means whereby the operator can cause the head portions to approach or retract from each other.

A still further object is a trolley having separable head portions which are so shaped as to enter a duct when in one position and to be incapable of withdrawal therefrom when rotated to another position.

Still further objects are novel forms of current collecting devices for trolleys, including wheels, shoes, etc.

A still further object is a novel form of trolley, one which has a handle portion projecting from a head portion and oifset thereirom, so as to prevent insertion of the trolley head in a duct in any but the proper direction, whereby flow of current in an improper direction is prevented.

A still further object is a novel form 0! trolley, one which includes a handle portion which projects downwardly from the duct enclosing the bus bars, and which is provided with a universal joint therein and means to lock the joint so as to rigidity the handle. It is also contemplated to provide the trolley with a means so connected to the separable head portions as to lock the universal joint only when the head portions are moved towards each other, that is to say, when removal of the trolley from the duct is desired.

A still further object is a novel form of plug-in type collector, particularly adapted for use with a current distributing system including a duct or channel having bus bars or other conductors therein. The collector can well be considered as being of the plug-in type, inasmuch as it may be combined with a duct merely by plugging it thereinto. Further, the collector may be equipped with fuses which are disposed within the confines of the duct. upon collector insertion, the construction being such that the fuses are automatically interlocked with respect to and protected by the other parts of the structure in such a way that access to the fuses is possible only after the collectors have been withdrawn from the duct, which withdrawal automatically disrupts the electrical connection between the collectors and the parts thereof, and the duct itself, and its bus bars.

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of trolley as if taken in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2-

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the form of Fig. 1, parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a second form of trolley as if taken on the arrow 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of the form of Fig. 3, parts being in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the form of Fig. 3, parts being shown as moved to a trolley release position.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4-

Fig. 7 is a side view of a third form of trolley.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a head portion of the form of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a form of collector contact and is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 10 is another view of the contact of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a fourth form of trolley, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line |2-|2 of Fig 11.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3-|3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line I4-l4 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a side view, partly in section, of a fifth form of trolley.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line Iii-I6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 shows details of the roller contact.

Fig. 18 is a section of Fig. 1'7 on line |8-|8.

Balancer or semi-permanent type used with channels Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one form of trolley is shown as provided with a pair of side plates 20 and 2| joined to each other at the bottom by means of a bolt 22 disposed within a sleeve or bushing 23, the latter forming a tool or Pedwyn balancer support. A base plate 25, U shaped in cross section joins and is secured to the plates 2| and 20 by means of bolts 26-21, the bolts 22-26-21 forming with the side plates a rigid, non-collapsible trolley construction. At the upper ends of the plates 2ll-2l there are disposed a plurality of roller or ball bearing trolley wheels 29 and 30, there being four in all, they being secured to the side plates by means of the bolts 3| and 32. Also disposed on the side plates and projecting through slots in the latter are a plurality of rollers 33 and 34, the securing means therefor being the straps 35 and 36 which are riveted to the side plates by means of the rivets 31 and 38. Secured to the base plate U shaped member are a plurality of insulating blocks 40-4! upon one of which are disposed a plurality (in this case six) roller supports 42, 43, and 44, in each of which is disposed a collector wheel, 46, 41, and 48.

As shown in Fig. l, insulating block 40 is cut away at 48 whereby roller support 44 androller 48 are disposed slightly below the level of the corresponding parts 42-43-35-41 for reasons to be hereafter described. Secured to the blocks 4|i-4| etc., is a plug and receptacle device not shown which is adapted to receive fuses and a cord leading to the tool, not shown, and adapted to be electrically connected through plug and receptacle contacts to the collector wheels 46 and 48 in a manner which is also not shown.

A feature of this invention, disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, is the form of collector wheels found useful in this type of trolley. Each of the supports 42-43-44 is provided with a member 5| which is pivoted to at a point 52 and each of which supports rollers upon an axle 53, there being a spring 55 disposed on the block 40 and adapted to cause upward movement of part 5i thereby causing the roller supported thereby to be thrust upwardly in constant engagement with the bus bar.

In use, the trolley of Fig. 1 is disposed upon a channel 60 which has downwardly extending flanges 6| and three phase bus bars 62-63-64 on its lower surface, the buses being insulated from one another and from the channel in an appropriate manner. The trolley is slipped on the channel or rail 68 at an end thereof, its wheels 29 and riding on the upper surface, its wheels 33-34 engaging the side flanges 6| for absorbing side thrust and its collector wheels 46-41-48 engaging the under surface of the buses 62-63- 64 respectively.

It will be observed that due to the displacement of bus 64 .and collector wheel 48 it is impossible to insert the trolley in the channel in any position other than the one shown, this construction preventing contact 48 from engaging any but the bus 64, thus polarizing the trolley and preventing flow of current through the tool fed thereby in an improper direction.

Portable type used with channels In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a second form of trolley. one which is adapted for use with the channel type distributor disclosed in Figs. 1 and 5 but which is removable from the channel or rail at any point, the trolley being provided with-separable sides whereby such removal is facilitated. In this form of trolley there is provided a handle 10 which extends upwardly into and is secured to a sleeve 1| which slides on the downwardly extending post 12 welded and secured to the base 13 of the trolley as indicated at 14. Secured to the base 13 are insulating blocks 15 upon which are secured the collectors 18-11 and 18, these last mentioned parts being similar to the corresponding parts of the form of Figs. 1 and 2. The base 13 is upwardly extended at B3 and 24 to form guides or thrust plates for the slotted side plates 86-81, upon which are supported the trolley wheels 88-89. The side plates are hingedly secured to the base plate by means of the hinges 9| and 92, secured to the base 13 by means of the bolts 93' and 94, the side plates 86-81 extending somewhat below the base plate 18 to provide portions which are joined and constantly attracted to each other by means of the constantly contracting coil spring 35. Upon the handle I there is provided an L-shaped latch member 95 secured to a wire 91 which in turn is secured to a latch 90 pivoted on the sleeve 'II at 09 and held down by a spring I00 secured to the sleeve II at the point IOI.

When a trolley is to be placed upon a channel I03, its sides are separated or moved to the position shown in Fig. 5. The trolley is then placed under and against the channel and handle I0 is pushed upwardly against the bottom of the channel. Sleeve 'II moves upwardly on post I2 and links I04, connecting it with the side plates 36-41, are thrust outwardly, moving the side plates on their pivots 0I-92 towards the channel, causing wheels 88 and 83 to be disposed above the channel I03. The parts are held in this position by means of the coil spring which acts exactly in line with the links I04 and by means of the latch hook I which prevents post I2 from moving upwardly in sleeve II.

When a trolley is to be removed from a channel, its sides are to be separated and this is accomplished as follows: Latch member 33 is depressed, forcing hook I05 out of the sleeve II and the post I2, permitting relative separation of these parts. The handle I0 and sleeve I I are pulled downward- 1y, wheels 83 and 89 resting on the channel I03, and the straight line linkage I04-I04 is broken, thus permitting spring 05 to pull the lower portions of side plates 36-31 towards each other and causing their upper portions to separate, thus releasing the trolley from the channel.

It will be observed that the upper edges of side plates 368I are protected by fiber sleeves i03 which prevent the metal plates from bridging or engaging the buses in the event a trolley is inserted in a channel with its sides closed, or with one side inside the channel.

It will also be observed from Fig. 5 that the extensions 3334 of the base I3, by virtue of their diverging lips 85, facilitate the proper mounting of a trolley on a channel, they abutting the lower edges of the channel sides and thus guiding the trolley into its proper position with respect to the channel.

Further, from Fig. 5, it will be seen that bolts 93-94 act as stops against which the hinges 93a.94a which connect the side plate extensions 85a81a to the links I04 are adapted to abut, this construction preventing outward overtravel of the side plates 36-0I due to the tension of the spring 35.

Further, by virtue of its location, the coil spring constantly exerts a pull on the side plates, tending to hold them in desired position, open or closed.

It will also be observed that the blocks I5 form supports for three centrally disposed pairs of fuse clips, (Fig. 4) connected in pairs to the three collector wheels I6, 11, and I3, and automatically thus connected in phase with these collector wheels and consequently with the bus bars of the channel. The pairs of fuse clips are adapted to be connected by cartridge fuses (Fig. 6) in normal use. A construction of this character is of extreme value inasmuch as the fuses are automatically connected to the conductors or bus bars in the channel, and are confined within and protected by the walls thereof, in conjunction with the walls 93, 03, 04, 36 and 31, of the collector, in a closely confined and fully protected space.

Further, the fuses are automatically interlocked with respect to other parts of the structure in such a manner that access to the fuses is rendered impossible while they are alive, it being clearly apparent that the fuses are inaccessible when the collectors are plugged into the channel, and are accessible only after the collectors are removed from the channel, which action of removal automatically disconnects the collector and its fuses from the bus bars.

Further, the plug-in nature of the collector is of value since by a mere plugging-in action, a fused circuit lead-off is provided.

Portable typeUsed with duct A third form of trolley, especially useful with lighter electrical loads, is disclosed best in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. In this form the trolley head is composed of two insulating blocks I30 and I3 I, block I30 being provided with pins I32 which slide through apertures in the block I3I whereby to guide blocks I30 and I3I with respect to each other. A bow spring I33 secured to block I3I constantly tends to move block I30 away from block I3I thus forcing the contacts I34 into engagement with the correspondingly located buses I35 in the duct I36, the contacts I34 preferably being of the collector wheel type previously described. Disposed on the insulating blocks I30-I3I are fuse clips I33 adapted to support fuses I33 in an obvious manner, there being three such fuses for each of the three phases represented by each of three buses I35; one of the buses I35 being grounded, for obvious reasons. Secured to the under side of block I3I is a handle I40 upon which is pivotally mounted the link or strap I which is connected to the block I30 and which passes through an aperture in the block I 3|. The lower end of link or strap "I is secured to the pivoted crank I42 provided with a handle I43 whereby when the latter is pressed towards the handle I40, link I will pull downwardly, thus causing block I30 to approach block I 3i to release the contacts I34 from the bus bars. The trolley is provided with rollers I45 which prevent grabbing due to friction between the collector and the edges of the duct In Fig. 8 it will be seen that the collector head is elongated in cross section so that it can be inserted in the slot I41 of the duct I33 with its long axis parallel to the long axis of the duct, after which it is rotated 90 degrees so that its long axis will not be transverse of the duct, all of this taking place while handle I43 is held adjacent handle I40 and while head portions I30 and I3I are adjacent each other.

After the trolley has been rotated, handle I43 is released and blocks I30 and III move away from each other so that the contacts will engage the bus bars for current collection.

In this form, the trolley is supported on the buses themselves, unlike forms previously described wherein the trolleys is supported on a structural steel rail or channel.

Further, contacts I34, which are described, are wheel type contacts, may be replaced by the shoe type contacts 234 disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10, they being secured to the insulating blocks I30 by means of rivets I43.

Further, in order to prevent the current conducting cords which lead from the trolley from becoming entangled and perhaps broken, causing shortcircuiting, etc., fibre tubes I40 are provided, these tubes enclosing the wires which are threaded therethrough and through the aperture I58 (Fig. '7) on the trolley handle.

An inspection of this type of trolley reveals that the fuses I35 thereof, carried by the fuse clips or contacts I39 thereof, are enclosed within the confines of the duct and are automatically connected and interlocked with respect to the other parts of the structure, in a manner that will be apparent from an understanding of the description offered in connection with the trolley collector of Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive.

Universal typeUsed with ducts A fourth type of trolley which is also used with ducts for light load, is disclosed in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive. In this form, the separable blocks I38 and I3l of the forms of Figs '1 and 8 are provided, and block III has secured thereto a pair of straps I88 between which is slidable the yoke IGI to which the head I38 is secured by means of the bolt I82. Welded to the sleeve I68 is a support I84 in which is disposed a coil spring I65 which tends to press upwardly on yoke I8I and maintain head portions I88 and ISI separated. A pin I88 secured to the lower side of yoke I6I passes through support I84 and is disposed within the ring I68 of the universal joint, the ring being supported on and between straps lit by trunnions I69 and bolts I10 and on and between the ears I12 of the tube III which forms an extension of the straps I68. On the lower end of the pin I86 is secured a chain or tension member I14, the latter being secured at its lower end to a sleeve or handle member I15 provided with a pivoted latch I18 having a hook I11 disposed within an aperture I18 of the sleeve I13 and held therein by means of the expanding spring I19.

when it is desired to place the trolley in a duct, the rigid trolley, whose parts are in the position shown in Fig. 11, is placed in the duct and rotated. Latch I16 is then pressed by the operator's hand, so that hook I11 is withdrawn from aperture I18, whereupon spring I88 causes separation of blocks I38, III, and releases the universal ring I68.

when removal of the trolley is desired, handle I15 is pulled downwardly against spring Ifluntil the latch hook slides far enough down the sleeve I13 to engage within aperture I18.

An inspection of the trolley of Figs. 11 to 14 reveals that it carries fuse clips (Fig. 11) for cartridge fuses and further reveals that with this type of trolley also, the advantages which may be gained by disposing fuses within the confines of the duct, in association with a plug-in collector, readily accrue, just as can be understood with reference to the description of the corresponding features of the trolleys of Figs. 3 to 6 and 'I to 10 inclusive.

Semi-permanent type--Used with ducts A fifth form of trolley, useful with the ducts disclosed in Fig. 'I, is disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16. In this form the collector head I88 is provided with contacts I8I similar to those disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10 and with side thrust roller bearings I82 supported on axle forming straps I88 secured to the head by means of the bolts Ill. In this form also the axis of the handle I88 is displaced with respect to the axis of the head I88 and of the duct I81, whereby improper rotation of the head in the duct is prevented, this form being insertable in the duct only from an end thereof.

Modifications While there have been shown five different modifications of the trolley, it is obvious that other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, whose scope is to be determined by the appended claims and not to be limited by the foregoing description.

For example, in the form of Fig. 1, the side plates may be joined to each other by means of a handle or extension rather than by means of a tool support. Further, the trolley wheels may be disposed at different points, in the event different shapes of rails are used. Also instead of having two collector wheels for each phase as in Fig. 1, it is obvious that one or more than two may be used, if desired.

Similarly, in the form of Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the fuse clips may be disposed on the side rather than in the head and more than one collector wheel for each phase member used. Further, other means for releasing the trolley from the rail may be used, if desired.

In the form of Figs. '1 to inclusive, nonseparating heads may be used, if desired, the device thus being made a more or less semi-permanent trolley. Further, the fuse clips may be provided on the handle I40 rather than in the head ISIl-IM. Furthermore, the guides I32 may be replaced by other guiding means or may be omitted altogether, if desired.

Similarly in Figs. 11 to 14, a different universal joint and different forms of locking means may be used, if desired.

In the form of Figs. and 16 the handle I88 may be joined to the head I88 on the side thereof rather than at the bottom. Similarly, numerous other modifications may be designed and it is the intention of the applicant to consider all modifications as the full equivalent of those described and claimed.

Further, if desired, a roller contact of the form 'of Figs. 17 and 18 may be used. In this form a copper tube or sleeve I98 is fastened to the outer race I9 of a standard form of ball bearing,-the latter being usually made of steel. The fastening may be performed in various ways, but it is preferred to swedge or sweat the tube onto the race. 'I'his form of roller provides a copper to copper contact between the roller and the copper bus bar and is therefore, superior to ordinary steel roller contacts not so equipped.

It is of course understood that while fuses have been shown as the circuit protective means, it will be understood that other circuit protective means might well be employed, as, for example, circuit breakers or the like.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

1. In a current collector, parallel, plate-like contact supports movable bodily towards and away from each other in a direction transverse to their planes, a bow spring between said supports constantly tending to separate them from each other, and a manually operable means to cause said supports to approach each other.

2. A current collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a hinge joint and with means to move said contact supports towards each other.

3. A current collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a hinge joint, with means to move said contact supports towards each other, and with means to lock said joint to rigidity said handle.

4. A current collector including contact supports movable to and from each other and a handle, said handle being provided with a hinge joint, with means to move said contact supports towards each other, and with means to lock said joint to rigidity said handle, said locking means being so connected to said support moving means that actuation of the latter locks said joint.

5. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, 8. contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, certain of said contacts being displaced with respect to the remaining contacts, whereby improper application of said collector to a current distributor is prevented.

6. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being separable from each other whereby said trolley may be removed from the current distributor to which it is applied, there being spring means tending to separate said side plates from each other, the collector being provided with means to permit separation of said plate, said means including toggle joints adapted to be broken for plate separation.

7. For use with a current distributor which includes a top horizontal wall and a bottom horizontal wall provided with an elongated continuous riding slot, a current collector head including a pair 01' parallel plate-like horizontal roller supports mounted so as to move bodily towards and away from each other in a direction transverse to their planes and adapted, when separated, to cause the rollers supported thereby to engage said bus bars, and adapted, when adjacent each other to permit free movement of the collector along said distributor, means between the supports tending to effect separation 01 said supports, and means depending from the head and riding through and in said slot and operable by pull thereon to free rollers from said duct walls by causing said supports to approach each other.

8. A current collector including a pair of metallic side plates between which a current distributor is to be disposed, and insulators on the edges of said side plates adapted to prevent engagement of said side plates with said distributor.

9. A current collecting trolley including a pair of side plates, a contact support secured to and between said plates, contacts on said support, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates having insulator coverings on their upper edges.

10. In combination with an elongated bus duct including elongated bus bars and an enclosing casing provided with an elongated opening in a wall, a current collector device in the nature of a relatively short trolley device disposed within the confines oi the duct and having means co-operatively engaging duct portions to hold the device in and to close a portion of the duct, the device including a body of insulating material, current collectors thereon engaging the bus bars, circuit protective means, and current lead-oil conductors, the collectors and the circuit protective means being disposed within the confines oi the duct.

-11. For use with a bus-duct having an elongated open bottom, a movable current collector including a pair of side plates having a considerable length along the run of the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adjacent part of said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, and trolley supports on and between said side plates.

12. For use with a bus-duct having an elongated open bottom, a movable current collector including a pair of side plates having a considerable length along the run oi the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adjacent part of said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being readily movable with respect to each other whereby said collector may be removed from the bus duct between them to which it is applied.

13. Foruse with abus-duct having an elongated open bottom, amovable current collector including a pair of side plates having a considerable length along the run of the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adjacent part of said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, and trolley supports on and between said side plates, the collector being provided with fuse clips on said contact support whereby fuses may be mounted on said support so as to be contained within the enclosure formed by the duct, the side plates, and the support.

14. For use with a bus-duct having an elongated open bottom, a movable current collector including a pair of side plates having a considerable length along the run of the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adiacent part oi said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, the trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being readily movable with respect to each other whereby said collector may be removed from the bus duct between them to which it is applied, said contact support being provided with means to guide and limit movement 01' said side plates.

15. For use with a bus-duct having an elongated open bottom, a movable current collector including a pair oi? side plates having a considerable length along the run of the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adjacent part of said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being readily movable with respect to each other whereby said collector may be removed trom the bus duct between them to which it is applied, there being spring means tending to move said side plates into duct releasing position, the collector being provided with means to prevent and means to permit such movement of said plates.

16. For use with a bus-duct having an elongated open bottom, a movable current collector including a pair of side plates having a considerable length along the run of the collector, a plate like contact support secured to and between said side plates and closing the adjacent part of said open bottom, contacts between the side plates on said support and having no portions extending beyond the side plates and adapted to slide along and against bus bars, and trolley supports on said side plates, said side plates being readily movable with respect to each other whereby said collector may be removed from the bus duct between them to which it is applied, there being spring means tending to move said side plates into duct releasing position, the collector being provided with means to prevent and means to permit separation of said plates, said means including a latch device mounted upon a handle portion of said collector.

17. In combination with a bus duct having a top, sides, and bus bars along the inside of the top, a current collector trolley comprising side plates for engaging the duct, a contact support connecting the side plates and having collector contacts thereon -ior engaging the bus bars, the duct, the sides plates, and the contact support forming an enclosure for the collector contacts, and circuit protective means on the contact support and confined within the enclosure thus formed.

18. In combination with a bus duct having a top, sides, and bus bars along the inside of the top, a current collector comprising side plates for engaging the duct, a contact supoprt connecting the side plates and having collector contacts thereon for engaging the bus bars, the side plates having portions riding on the duct for supporting the collector, the side plates being movable with respect to each other. to permit the collector to be withdrawn from or applied to a duct.

19. In combination with a bus duct having a top, sides, and a bottom provided with a slot therein, and bus bars on the inside of racing walls of the duct, a current collector comprising contact supports movable towards and away from each other and the facing walls, contacts thereon for engaging the bus bars, a handle projecting from the duct through the slot, and means associated with the handle and contact supports for separating or drawing together the contact supports, the slot and the handle being assymetrically disposed for polarization.

20. In combination with a bus duct having a top, sides, and a billing]. provided with a slot therein, and bus bars on the inside of facing walls of the duct, 2. current collector comprising contact supports movable towards and away from each other and the facing walls, contacts thereon for engaging the bus bars, a handle projecting from the duct through the slot, and means associated with the handle and contact supports for separating or drawing together the contact supports, and circuit protective means on the supports confined within the duct.

21. In combination with a bus duct run comprising a length of metallic duct of channeled cross section inside of which are lengths of bus bars, a load supporting and collector device comprising a pair of supports, horizontally axled rollers thereon for riding on substantially horizontal rail surfaces of the bus duct run and for supporting the device, vertically axled side thrust rollers thereon for irictionlessly engaging and riding against substantially vertical sides of the bus duct run, a base plate connecting said supports and closing the open channel from below, and current collectors on said base plate and between said supports, for engaging and riding against bus bars of said bus duct run.

22. In combination with a bus duct run comprising a length of metallic duct of channeled cross section inside of which are lengths of bus bars, a load supporting and collector device comprising a pair of supports, horizontally axled rollers thereon for riding on substantially horizontal rail surfaces of the bus duct run and for supporting the device, vertically axled side thrust rollers thereon for frictionlessly engaging and riding against substantially vertical sides of the bus duct run, a base plate connecting said supports and closing the open channel from below, and current collectors on said base plate and between said supports for engaging and riding against bus bars of said bus duct run, said base, carrying said collectors, being removable as a unit from said device.

23. In a trolley type collector head that rides within a distributor duct, 9. current collector comprising a base having an upwardly projecting part, a member pivotally connected at one end to the part and having an axle at its other end, a collector wheel on said axle, and a compression spring between said base and said member urging them away from each other.

24. For use with a bus duct run having a continuous slot in a wall thereof, and having bus bars therein, a current collector device including an insulated base, forming a barrier between a major part of the duct and the slotted wall, current collectors on said base and supporting rollers on said base, the current collectors being within the major part of the duct and separated from the slotted wall by the base.

25. For use with a bus duct run having a continuous slot in a wall thereof, and having bus bars therein, a current collector device including an insulated base, forming a barrier between a major part of the duct and the slotted wail, current collectors on one side of said base and supporting rollers on the other side of said base.

26. A current collecting trolley including supports which, when in one position, prevent separation of the trolley from a distributor, and which, when in a second position, permit such separation, spring means tending to move said supports towards said second position, and a toggle linkage i'or maintaining the supports in the first position and adapted to be broken to permit said springs to move said supports to the second position.

2'7. For use with a trolley duct, a current collecting trolley comprising a head portion in close proximity to the trolley duct and a load support remote therefrom and carried thereby, the head portion having two independent sets of horizontally axled rollers for limiting vertical movement of the trolley with respect to the duct, one set being within the duct and acting as current collector means, and a set of vertically axled side thrust rollers for limiting horizontal movement of the trolley with respect to the duct.

28. For use with a trolley duct, a current collecting trolley having two independent, relatively movable, sets of horizontally axled rollers ior limiting vertical movement of the trolley with respect to the duct, one set being within the duct and acting as a current collector means, and

spring means for controlling the relative position of said sets of rollers.

29. For use with a trolley duct having a slotted wall, a current collecting trolley comprising a head within the duct and a portion extending downwardly therefrom through the slot of the duct, the head comprising substantially parallel supports and isolating live portions of the duct from the slot thereof, each support, on the side thereof most remote from the other support, carrying a set of rollers, one set thereof serving as collector rollers, the two sets of rollers cooperating with each other to limit movement of the head in said duct, and spring means between the supports and tending to separate them and thus urge the rollers into contact with the cooperating surfaces of the duct.

30. For use with a trolley duct having a slotted wall, a current collecting trolley comprising a head within the duct and a portion extending downwardly therefrom through the slot of the duct, the head comprising substantially parallel supports and isolating live portions of the duct from the slot thereof, each support, on the side thereof most remote from the other support, carrying a set of rollers, one set thereof serving as collector rollers, the two sets of rollers cooperating with each other to limit movement of the head in said duct, and spring means between the supports and tending to separate them and thus urge the rollers into contact with the cooperating surfaces of the duct, and means between the supports for guiding them in their movement towards and away from each other.

31. For use with a trolley duct having a slotted wall, a current collecting trolley comprising a head within the duct and a portion extending downwardly therefrom through the slot of the duct, the head comprising substantially parallel supports and isolating a portion of the duct on one side of the head from a portion of the duct on the other side of the head, each support, on the side thereof most remote from the other support, carrying a set of rollers, one set thereof serving as collector rollers, the two sets of rollers cooperating with each other to limit movement of the head in said duct, and spring means between the supports and tending to separate them and thus urge the rollers into contact with the cooperating surfaces of the duct, and a hinge joint in the trolley portion which extends through the duct slot for permitting movement of said head with respect to the part of said portion most re mote from the head.

32. In a current collecting trolley, a unitary structure comprising an insulated base having a substantially flat surface, collectors and fuses on said surface and in substantially a common plane, each fuse being axially alined with a collector.

33. In a current collecting trolley, a unitary structure comprising an insulated base having a substantially fiat surface, collectors and fuses on said surface and in substantially a common plane, each fuse being axially alined with a collector, the collectors being arranged in a V, and the fuses being arranged in parallel side by side juxtaposition and in a row.

34. In combination with an elongated duct having an elongated narrow slot of uniform clearance and elongated bus bars, a trolley type current collector having a head formed to ride freely in and along the duct and insertable into and withdrawable from the duct through any part of the narrow slot and having a portion extending through and riding in and along the slot providing means whereby the head may be rotated from outside the duct after insertion for straddling the slot and thus registering the head contacts with the bus bars and thus positioning the head for riding in and along the duct, the head including two parallel plates each having contacts supported thereon, the plates being mounted so as to move bodily towards and away from each other in a direction transverse to their planes and adapted when separated to cause the contacts supported thereby to engage said bus bars, means tending to effect separation of said plates, and means on the portion extending through the slot and manipulabie outside of the duct for causing the plates to approach each other and facilitate further manipulation of said head for withdrawal from said slot.

35. In combination with an elongated duct having an elongated narrow slot of uniform clearance and elongated bus bars, a trolley type current collector having a head formed to ride freely in and along the duct and insertabie into and withdrawable from the duct through any part of the narrow slot and having, a portion extending through and riding in and along the slot providing means whereby the head may be rotated from outside the duct after insertion for straddling the slot and thus registering the head contacts with the bus bars and thus positioning the head for riding in and along the duct, the head including two parallel plates each having contacts su ported thereon, the plates being mounted so as to move bodily towards and away from each other in a direction transverse to their planes and adapted when separated to cause the contacts supported thereby to engage said bus bars, means tending to effect separation of said plates. and means on the portion extending through the slot and manipulable outside of the duct for causing the plates to approach each other and facilitate further manipulation of said head for withdrawal from said slot, the portion comprising rigid parts connected by a hinge joint whereby that part of the portion most remote from the head. upon which part is the means aforesaid, may move freely with respect to the head as the head rides along the duct.

36. In a multiphase current collector head forming part of a current collector trolley for riding along a distributor duct, 9. base, and three separate collectors thereon arranged in V forma tion, with one longitudinally remote from the group formed by the other two, the collector arrangement restraining rocking of the base as it rides along the distributor duct.

3'7. In a multiphase current collector head forming part of a current collector trolley for riding along a distributor duct, a base, and six separate collectors thereon arranged in tandem V formation, three to each V, with three at each end of the base, the collector arrangement restraining rocking of the base as it rides along the distributor duct.

38. In a multiphase current collector head forming part of a current collector trolley for riding along a distributor duct, a base, and six separate collectors thereon arranged n nd m V formation, three to each V, with three at each end of the base, the collector arrangement restraining rocking of the base as it rides along the distributor duct, the collectors in one V bein electrically connected in tandem with the aligned collectors of the other V.

39. In combination with a trolley duct having an open bottom and bus bars on the inside of its upper wall, a trolley collector having a head within the duct provided with collector contacts on its upper surface for engaging the bus bars, the head shielding the contacts from the space below the bus bars and thus preventing sparks from dropping from the bus bars through the open bottom of the duct, rollers restraining up and down andsidewise movement of the trolley as it rolls along the duct, the trolley carrying fuses below the bus bars of the duct in a shielded manner, and having a trolley manipulating portion passing through and riding in the duct slot and formed with a pivotal joint between the duct and its own lower extremity, whereby longitudinally componented pulls on said lower extremity, even if along lines transversely remote from the duct axis, will cause the trolley to roll along the duct.

40. A current collector trolley device adapted to ride along a trolley bus duct or the like having a current collecting head, and means comprising horizontally axled supporting rollers and vertically axled thrust rollers for restraining all movement of the head in all directions transversely of the longitudinal axis of the duct and not interfering with movement of the head along the duct, the head having resiliently mounted current col.- lector contacts.

41. A current collector trolley device adapted to ride along a trolley bus duct or the like having a current collector head, and means comprising horizontally axled supporting rollers and vertically axled thrust rollers for restraining all movement of the head in all directions transversely of the longitudinal axis of the duct and not interfering with movement of the head along the duct, the head having resiliently mounted current collector contacts and means depending from the head and connected thereto by a flexible joint and manipulable at points laterally remote from the duct to cause the head to ride along the duct or the like.

42. For use with a trolley duct having a slotted wall and a wall opposite the slotted wall provided with bus bars, a trolley head comprising plates providing a barrier between the bus bars and the slotted wall, roller means on the plates engaging the bus bars and the slotted wall, a spring between the plates urging them and their roller means apart and towards said opposite walls, the rollers resiliently restraining all movement of the head transversely of the duct towards and away from the aforesaid opposite walls, and means for guiding such movement of the plates and rollers, and roller means for restraining all movement of the head transversely of the duct in a direction parallel to the aforesaid walls.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. WILLIAM A. HARPER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Reissue No. 1 ,513. April 2, I935.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK, ET AL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, first column, line 18, claim 16, for "separation"-read such movement; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1935.

Leslie, Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

